Olga Grosh: Immigration Attorney

Olga Grosh is an immigration attorney based in Fresno whose story begins in 1994 in Kiev, Ukraine. At the age of 9, Olga was diagnosed with cancer incredibly close to her brain. Ukraine did not have medication or equipment to treat her. Olga had to be rush to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

After several years, Olga’s cancer was in remission. Olga had to now learn new English words that had to do with normal life, not medical terms. She also found herself on a new journey not knowing what will happen with her immigration status because while in treatment, her family had a US immigration appointment in Moscow. Olga could not attend the interview as she was hospitalized.

After a long wait, Olga was finally granted asylum and residency based on her Jewish family’s persecution during and after the Holocaust. As a lawful permanent resident, Olga was detained multiple times by airport immigration agents while on school trips. Olga recalls those terrifying times when she was held for hours, and agents screamed at her that she was not allowed to call her family even though she was still a minor child all alone after her teachers and student friends passed through immigration as US citizens. Crying and terrified, Olga was later released to her parents without an explanation other than she should not have been detained, to begin with.

After a 15 year struggle, and just a month before starting law school, Olga was sworn in as a US citizen. Olga finally became a citizen of the country that provided her aid her when she needed it the most. Olga wanted to give back but thought that she had enough dealing with immigration and would find another path to help. However, while studying law in San Francisco, she realized the value of being a bilingual student with personal knowledge of the immigration process and how she could help those facing immigration processes.

Olga is grateful that the United States let her in, accepted her, and saved her life. Olga knows that so many immigrants in dire need are not as fortunate. Today, Olga Grosh works as an immigration attorney and serves the Central Valley’s immigrant community. Olga is recognized by many community members for her work ethic and willingness to help those who are need of assistance.

Interview conducted by Evely Gomez, Fall 2017 Empower Immigrant Fresno intern.